Daily Reflection for Friday, January 10, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011020.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 John 5: 5-13
Responsorial: Psalm 147: 12-13, 14-15, 19-20
Gospel: Luke 5: 12-16
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
“The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.” Luke 5: 16.
Today’s Gospel is another account of Jesus performing a miracle, this time healing a leper. As often happened, Jesus told the recipient of the healing to tell no one.
Why did Jesus instruct people he healed to tell no one? One way or another, word of Jesus’ healing miracles spread through the communities. Weren’t the miracles that Jesus performed done so that more people would understand he was the Son of God? If word of his miracles drew bigger crowds, wasn’t Jesus reaching more people? Saving more souls?
I think Jesus is more about substance than sensationalism. Any great speaker can whip a crowd into frenzy. Famous orators throughout history have used crowd dynamics to convince people of many things. People can be manipulated to believe almost anything for a period of time. But Jesus was not about sensational mass conversions. His passion was leading people to God. Although the crowds who heard Jesus preach were excited about his message, his mission was (and is) the most personal, individual conversion deep in one’s heart.
As I’ve meditated on this, my thoughts have turned to the Virgin Mary and the miracle of conception she experienced. What did she do? She pondered these things in her heart. Did Jesus want the recipients of his miracles to take time to ponder the event in their hearts? Did Jesus want the real miracle to be in the heart and soul?
Jesus is love and he taught us the heart is the way. He showed us the way by ministering to people and quietly withdrawing to deserted places to pray. We can do no better than that. Live our lives so that others can experience God and stay connected to our Lord.
How will you allow Jesus to draw you away from the world to experience miracles deep in your heart today?
Blessings to you,
Ruth Mytty